"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

If you're interested in Marici in particular vis a vis military arts, you might also Google "David Hall Marishiten". Hall wrote a thesis called "Marishiten: Buddhism and the Warrior Goddess", tracing the origins and development of Marici (Jp. Marishiten) veneration and sadhana in India, China and Japan. The thesis itself may be found online.

A separate article by him entitled "Marishiten: Buddhist Influences on Combative Behavior" appears in a book called Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan.

~ Meido

Nowadays there is much talk about the sublime and the profound, or conversely criticism of the Two Vehicles, belittling their authority. [Proponents of] the partial, the round, the exoteric and the esoteric schools contend with each other, yet they have not even accomplished the confirmation of the Two Vehicles, let alone that of the Bodhisattva Vehicle. And as for the One Buddha Vehicle, how could they conceive of it even in their dreams? What use to them are the partial, round, exoteric and esoteric teachings? - Torei

FYI, the dissertation you mention was composed and submitted to UCB over 20 years ago (1990).

This year I am publishing a much revised rendition of that work with some new and very interesting conclusions: The Buddhist Goddess Marishiten: A Study of the Evolution and Impact of her Cult on the Japanese Warrior, Global Oriental publishers with Brill: http://www.brill.com/buddhist-goddess-marishiten

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.Through the qualities of meditating in that way,Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

In the Longchen Nyingthig Dug-ngal Rang-drol (Self-Liberation of Suffering, a form of Chenrezig), the secret (level) Guru Yoga (often done as a Yidam practice), Marici (Odzer Chenma) is the activity Goddess of the South in the lay-jor practice. While the south is usually associated as enriching, here She "enriches" with the brilliance taken from subdued obstructors.

"Absolute Truth is not an object of analytical discourse or great discriminating wisdom,It is realized through the blessing grace of the Guru and fortunate Karmic potential.Like this, mistaken ideas of discriminating wisdom are clarified."

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.

...and yes, indeed, Marici is one of five deities in the Five deity mandala of Khadiravani Tara, or Tara of the Acacia Forest, which is one of five "Heart Practices" of First Karmapa Dusum Khyenpa. Though I don't know if this practice bears any relatio to the Mayajalamahatantra itself.

"Absolute Truth is not an object of analytical discourse or great discriminating wisdom,It is realized through the blessing grace of the Guru and fortunate Karmic potential.Like this, mistaken ideas of discriminating wisdom are clarified."

May any merit generated by on-line discussionBe dedicated to the Ultimate Benefit of All Sentient Beings.